NEW DELHI, Jan 9 (Agencies): National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's recent assertion on talks between India and Pakistan, though obliquely, and congratulated her for finally 'realising' only dialogue can end the mayhem.

His reaction came after Mufti asked the governments of India and Pakistan to resume talks and resolve their mutual issues amicably.

"I would like to congratulate Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti ji for realising that until we have talks with Pakistan, militancy will not end. I feel Modi ji has the courage to initiate this and take it to a logical end," he said.

Addressing a rally in Anantnag, Mufti said, "I appealed to Pakistan and our country's head Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get the people of Kashmir out of this muck. I urge them to hold a dialogue and befriend each other."

She further asked both the nations to resolve their issues and safeguard the soldiers.

Kashmir has been bearing the brunt of India and Pakistan's rivalry for a long time with cases of unprovoked firing, ceasefire violation and stone pelting increasing in the state being recorded every now and then.

The Centre had, last year, appointed Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor for the Valley to hold a "sustained dialogue with all stakeholders" to find a political solution to the Kashmir issue.

JAMMU, Jan 9: The opposition members from National Conference and Congress members on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in protest against poor power scenario in the state as the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who also holds the charge of power, had to face the ire of united opposition.
The government also had to face flak on the issue of shortcomings in ration supply. On this issue even the members of treasury benches joined the cause with the opposition.